Walk into your USCIS interview ready to pass
At your naturalization interview a USCIS officer reviews your Form N-400 under oath, tests your spoken English, has you read and write one English sentence, and asks you up to 20 civics questions out loud. If you filed on or after October 20, 2025, you need 12 correct answers from the 128-question 2025 civics test.
Checked against official sources · October 2026
Step by step
- 01
Confirm you are eligible
Check that you are not already a citizen through your parents, then check the residence, physical presence, good moral character and other requirements. You can file up to 90 days before you reach your 5-year (or 3-year) mark; USCIS has an Early Filing Calculator and will reject an application sent too early.
- 02
Prepare Form N-400
Read the N-400 instructions and gather evidence: a copy of your green card, marriage and divorce records if relevant, court records for any arrest or citation, and tax records if needed. List every trip outside the U.S., every address and job for the required period, and answer every “Have you ever…” question truthfully.
- 03
File and pay the fee
File online through a USCIS online account ($710) or by mail ($760). A reduced fee ($380) and fee waivers (Form I-912) exist but must be requested on paper. USCIS sends a receipt notice; you can then track your case online.
- 04
Biometrics appointment
If USCIS needs your fingerprints, photo and signature, it mails an appointment notice for an Application Support Center. Bring the notice and photo ID. Your fingerprints are used for FBI background checks.
- 05
Interview and tests
At a USCIS field office, an officer puts you under oath, checks your identity, reviews your N-400 answers, and gives the English test (speaking, reading, writing) and the civics test. You leave with Form N-652, Naturalization Interview Results.
- 06
Decision
Your application is granted, continued (for example to retest a failed part 60-90 days later or to submit more documents with Form N-14), or denied. If denied, you can request a hearing with Form N-336.
- 07
Oath ceremony
Sometimes the oath is the same day as the interview; otherwise USCIS sends Form N-445 with the date. Complete the N-445 questionnaire, hand in your green card at check-in, and take the Oath of Allegiance. You are not a citizen until you take the oath.
- 08
After you become a citizen
Check your Certificate of Naturalization for errors before leaving the ceremony. Then you can apply for a U.S. passport, register to vote, and update your Social Security record (USCIS suggests waiting at least 10 days after the ceremony).
Who can apply
Age 18 or older
You must be at least 18 years old when you file Form N-400.
Permanent resident for 5 years (or 3)
Generally 5 years as a lawful permanent resident. If you have been married to and living in marital union with a U.S. citizen, generally 3 years as a permanent resident, with your spouse a citizen during that time. Special rules apply to members of the U.S. armed forces.
Continuous residence
You must have lived continuously in the U.S. for the 5 (or 3) years before filing. A trip of more than 6 months but less than 1 year is presumed to break continuous residence unless you can show otherwise; a trip of 1 year or more breaks it (except with an approved Form N-470 in limited cases).
Physical presence
You must have been physically in the U.S. for at least 30 months out of the 5 years (or 18 months out of 3 years for the marriage route) before filing.
Three months in your state or USCIS district
You must have lived for at least 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you file before you apply.
Good moral character
You must show good moral character during the statutory period and up to the oath; conduct before that period can also be considered. Criminal history, unpaid taxes, false claims to U.S. citizenship and unlawful voting are among the issues USCIS looks at. USCIS decides case by case.
English and civics
You must read, write and speak basic English and pass the civics test, unless an exemption applies (for example 50/20, 55/15, 65/20 for civics, or a medical exception with Form N-648).
Attachment to the Constitution
You must show attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.
Everything about the United States process
Form N-400, step by step
How to time, fill out, file and pay for your Application for Naturalization without the mistakes that cause delays or denials.
ReadWhat happens on interview day
The real order of a USCIS naturalization interview, what the officer is checking at each step, and what to bring.
ReadCivics test strategy (2025 version)
How the 128-question civics test actually works, which answers depend on you, and how to study so you can answer out loud.
ReadEnglish test: speaking, reading and writing
What the officer checks in each part of the English test and how to practice for the exact format.
ReadDocuments checklist
What to send with the N-400 and what to bring to the interview, depending on your situation.
ReadN-400 fee in 2026: the $380 reduced fee and fee waivers (Form I-912)
What naturalization costs as of October 2026, who qualifies for the reduced fee or a full fee waiver, what evidence to send, and what the proposed fee increase would change.
ReadTrips abroad and continuous residence: the 6-month and 1-year rules
How travel outside the U.S. affects naturalization, how to rebut the 6-month presumption, what to do after a trip of a year or more, and when Form N-470 helps.
ReadNaturalization through marriage: the 3-year rule
Who can apply after 3 years instead of 5 when married to a U.S. citizen, what “living in marital union” means, and what happens if the marriage ends before the oath.
ReadFailed the civics or English test? How the re-exam works
What happens after you fail part of the naturalization test, how the second attempt works, and your options if you fail again.
ReadThe oath ceremony: what to bring and what happens
How the naturalization ceremony works, what to bring, what to check on your certificate, and what to do in the first weeks as a new citizen.
ReadCitizenship for children: automatic citizenship vs. Form N-600
When children become U.S. citizens automatically after a parent naturalizes, how to prove it, and how Forms N-600 and N-600K differ.
ReadCommon questions
Which civics test will I take, the 2008 or the 2025 version?
It depends on the date USCIS received your N-400. Filed on or after October 20, 2025: the 2025 test (128 questions, up to 20 asked, 12 correct to pass). Filed before that date: the 2008 test (100 questions, up to 10 asked, 6 correct to pass). Your interview date does not change this.
Will the officer ask all 20 civics questions?
No. The officer stops as soon as you reach 12 correct answers (you pass) or 9 incorrect answers (you fail that attempt). Someone who answers the first 12 correctly is asked only 12 questions.
What happens if I fail part of the test?
Your case is continued and USCIS schedules a second attempt 60 to 90 days after the interview. You are only retested on the part you failed, with different questions or sentences. If you fail the same part again, the application is denied and you would need to reapply and pay the fee again.
How much does it cost to apply?
As of October 2026 USCIS lists $710 to file online and $760 to file on paper, with a $380 reduced fee and fee waivers available for eligible applicants on paper only. Biometrics are included. DHS proposed higher fees and the end of reduced fees and waivers in June 2026; check uscis.gov/n-400 before you pay.
Can I take the test in my own language?
Only if you qualify for an exemption. Applicants aged 50+ with 20 years as permanent residents, or 55+ with 15 years, are exempt from the English test and can take the civics test in their language with an interpreter. The 65/20 group can also take civics in their language and study only 20 questions. Everyone else takes the test in English.
I'm not sure how to answer a “Have you ever…” question. What should I do?
Answer truthfully and give the officer accurate details; never guess “no” to make an issue disappear. Lying or hiding facts can lead to denial and other consequences even when the underlying issue would not have. If you have arrests, past voting, a past claim to citizenship, unpaid taxes or long trips abroad, it is wise to get advice from an immigration attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative before filing. This site does not give legal advice.
Do I need to know the names of my senators and representative?
Yes, they are on the 2025 question list. Look them up on congress.gov with your home address. If you live in Washington, D.C. or a U.S. territory, the official answer is that you have no U.S. senators, and residents of territories may name their non-voting delegate or resident commissioner.
Can I travel abroad after filing?
You can, but you must continue to meet the requirements up to the oath, and a trip of more than 6 months can raise continuous residence questions. You must also attend your biometrics, interview and oath appointments, and rescheduling causes delays.
When do I actually become a U.S. citizen?
Only when you take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. Passing the interview is not enough. Until then, keep using your green card and do not register to vote.
Did anything change in 2026?
As of October 2026 the civics and English test format is the same as since October 20, 2025. In August 2026 USCIS reintroduced neighborhood investigations and stressed verifying applicants' information and documents during the examination, so be ready for detailed questions about your N-400. A proposed fee increase from June 2026 was not yet in effect when this page was checked.